Toxicological Characteristics of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle in Rats

In an effort to examine liver, heart and kidney injury, immune response, and other physiological effect in rats caused by intra-tracheal instillation of nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) for 28 days, we assessed T lymphocytes counts, hematological indices, biochemical parameters, cytokines assay and histopathological changes in nano TiO2 treated rats. Indeed, rats treated with nano TiO2 displayed a reduction in body weight and coefficients of the hearts. Edema and loose cytoplasm on liver cells were found in nano groups. The results showed that a statistically significant increased in the BUN, HTC and AST levels than those in control group. Our data suggested that the immunologically competent cells of CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+) caused by nano TiO2 32 mg/kg group were significantly lower than control group. The ratio of CD4(+) to CD8(+) from the nano 32 mg/kg group was significantly increased and showed a disturbance of cellular immune function. But ELISA analysis showed that no significant changes in IFN-gamma and IL-4 were observed throughout the experimental period in this study.